You know more than you think you do. Inside of all of us is a unique wisdom that can inform our choices and enhance our experience of life. One potent way to access this wisdom is through journaling. Here are 10 ideas to help you mine for gold with a pen.
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Free write. Write as fast as you can—whatever comes to your mind—without regard to spelling, punctuation, etc. This “brain dump” helps you clear your mind and prepare for the day.
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Write about your childhood. Write specific memories and notice any trends that occur or insights you have about your present life.
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Free associate. One word sparks another and so on. Watching where your mind takes you can help you get “underneath” issues you may be dealing with.
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Create timelines, grafs or word clusters (aka “mindmaps”). Use these tools to explore trends, patterns and different perspectives.
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Write letters. Clear up issues or unfinished business—even if you never end up sending it, writing can clear up any stuck energy in you.
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Draw or collage. You know the saying, “A picture speaks a thousand words.”
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Keep an idea journal. Jot down ideas that come to you throughout the day.
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Make lists. Fears, things you’re grateful for, aspirations, animals in your dreams, whatever. Making lists aggregates information in ways that give you a big picture view.
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Ask and answer questions. See page 3 “Beyond the Box” questions for some ideas.
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Record your dreams. Do the images and metaphors in them tell you anything?
Ideas for Journaling